Friday, February 22, 2008

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has auctioned 58 head of cattle and 21 horses that were seized near Winnemucca for unlawful grazing.

The federal agency said the cattle, formerly owned by Inger Casey, were sold for $17,287 on Feb. 1 to three separate bidders from Oregon and California.They were among 117 cows impounded by the BLM on Jan. 21 for trespassing on public lands.

BLM said the remaining cattle, except for two, were reclaimed by their owners.In a separate impound, the BLM on Jan. 24 seized 95 horses for trespassing near Fort McDermitt along the Nevada-Oregon line.

The state brand inspector determined 30 were estrays with no known owner. Those animals were turned over to the Nevada Department of Agriculture, the BLM said.According to the agency, another 30 were owned by Leonard and Larry Crutcher. Owners of two others relinquished title to their animals. Of those, 21 horses were sold at auction Feb. 15 for a total of $1,495, the BLM said.

The BLM said the remaining 11 unsold horses likely will be put up for bid at a future auction.